Flight attendants can tell a lot about a passenger from their preferred in-flight beverage.
Any flight attendant who has been working as cabin crew for very long also knows that different routes will have different high-demands for particular types of beverages. For example, flights to Dallas loves Dr. Pepper, while flights to Munich will blow through our entire beer supply during the first beverage service.
But what do these choices say about you? Keep reading to find out!
Ginger Ale
Ginger ale is such a classic in-flight beverage because its slightly tummy-settling properties made it a favorite among airline passengers’ way in the golden age of air travel.
If your favorite in-flight beverage is ginger ale, you like to play it safe and might be more of a follower than a leader. You pick ginger ale because you know it’s the drink to choose on a flight and you won’t be raising any eyebrows by asking for it. You are contentious and courteous and could be traveling for either business or pleasure.
Or you just have a tummy ache.
Red Wine
Red wine is a gutsy choice in my humble opinion. Turbulence and red wine often do not mix. So, by drinking red wine, you are gambling with an unpredictable force of nature that wants nothing more than to stain your outfit with your blood-colored beverage.
If you love sipping on red wine at 30,000 feet, you are confident and comfortable taking chances. You choose red wine knowing the risks but enjoy the thrill. You are probably a business traveler who is looking to unwind after making several gutsy investment decisions.
Cheers to that!
Sprite
Sprite is another commonly ordered in-flight soda and its popularity is understandable since it is refreshing and bubbly.
If Sprite is your go-to refreshment, you are probably a child or a parent. You are likely very excited to be flying to Disney for vacation and are probably already wearing your mouse ears. Your luggage is shaped like a Star Wars droid and you’re chatting off the ear of your seat mate whether you know them or not.
We hope all sprite drinkers have fun on their family vacation.
Whiskey
Whiskey is a classic drink among frequent flyers. We usually have some pretty decent whiskey on board, and the truly well-traveled will always ask for a specific brand.
If your drink of choice is whiskey, you have an appreciation for the finer things in life. You are probably a seasoned traveler and a foodie who enjoys turning each trip, be it for work or leisure, into a chance to experience new flavors.
You take your whiskey neat, your coffee black, and your bed at three. No, wait, that’s just Hozier but I think he probably drinks whiskey when he flies.
Coffee
Drinking coffee on a plane is ill-advised because the water used to brew it can be of questionable quality. If this is news to you, check out our article, Why You Shouldn’t Drink the Water on the Plane.
If you drink coffee on the airplane, you are hard-working. You are the go-getter, setting up your laptop as soon as the plane reaches cruising altitude so you can get some work done in-flight. You’re the type of person enjoys making every moment productive, even when you’re not working.
Or you could just be really tired and jet-lagged.
Gin and Tonic
Gin and Tonics are refreshing and have enough alcohol to really take the edge off at the end of a long day.
If you drink gin and tonic on airplanes, you are likely an off-duty flight attendant. You enjoy flying but also can’t turn off your eyes and ears, so you hope to mute your situational awareness with a little G&T. After all, they don’t serve Aviation Gin on airplanes for no reason!
Remember, you’re not working the flight and you should relax. 😉
Bottled Water
Everyone should be drinking water on planes. The cabin environment is so dehydrating that it’s recommended you drink a whole glass of water every hour you are in-flight.
If you order bottled water during the beverage service, you are a health-conscious traveler. Perhaps you are healthy lifestyle/travel influencer with a large following on social media, or just a freak who likes the taste of water and does not find it at all boring.
Either way, good for you. You’re probably the only person getting off this plane without a dehydration headache.
White Wine
White wine is a favorite among adults flying long distances.
If you drink white wine on your flights, you are probably sleepy but adventurous. White wine combined with a low-dose melatonin is a great way to catch some Zs on longer flights, and you know this from experience. You are trying to get your beautify sleep on the plane so you can hit the ground running as soon as you arrive at your destination.
I hope you have sweet dreams!
Root Beer
This one is a bit of a trick.
If you ask for root beer on your flights, you are a first-time flyer and you didn’t read the menu in your seatback pocket. As far as I know, none of the major airlines stock root beer as an option, so if you are asking for this it might be your very first time on a plane.
No shame. But if you love root beer your best bet is to buy it in the terminal and bring it on board with you.
Pineapple Juice
I love pineapple juice, but I’ve personally never had it on a plane.
If you order pineapple or mango juice, you are boogie and used to flying on the Asian and Middle Eastern carriers. You know what luxury flying looks like and expect it even when you fly on an American or European carrier.
We love having you on board, but remember we might only have OJ, and it’s probably not fresh-squeezed.
Conclusion
Flight attendants make plenty of assumptions about their passengers. It’s how we’re able to anticipate the needs of our passengers and take care of everyone properly. And, since we serve hundreds of people every day, a few trends tend to emerge allowing us to know exactly what your favorite drink says about you.
Did we size you up correctly based on your favorite beverage? Was your favorite one not on the list? Let us know because we’d love to hear from you!